What determines how ‘hard’ alcohol hits you?

Have you ever been surprised to see someone else acting drunk when you know that you have had the same number of drinks and you barely feel anything? It can be a bit confusing, but the reality is that the alcohol could hit you both in very different ways. Don’t automatically assume that they’re putting it on or that you need to drink more.

If you’re wondering what determines how hard the alcohol hits you after you drink, there are a whole host of factors to consider. They include:

How much time has gone by since you took the drink

How much you weigh

How tall you are

How old you are

What type of drink you chose

What the alcohol percentage is in that drink

If you are a man or a woman

How much you had to drink

What your alcohol tolerance is like and how often you drink

If you weigh 200 pounds and you drink every day, having two drinks on a full stomach may not hit you at all. Meanwhile, your 120-pound friend who rarely drinks and forgot to eat dinner could feel like they’re already getting drunk. The impact is different for everyone. This is why it is dangerous to drink in groups and to try to “keep up” with others. Not everyone feels those drinks the same way.

All of these issues can determine how you feel when you get in the car and whether you get pulled over. If you do and you end up facing DUI charges, make sure you know all your legal defense options.